9 – One Month - "You are the light up ahead at the end of the road. When I look in your eyes, it feels like I'm home. I need this night, yes it's late, but the morning will come. And as you fall fast asleep with your head on my chest, I watch you breathe in and out as you're finding your rest." – My Favorite Highway (Say So)
"Kendall?" Jade answered her phone. "Where the hell have you been?" She had been trying to call him all day, with no success, and didn't know if she was worried, or frustrated.
Hearing her tone, he immediately responded, "I know, baby. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He sighed. "Look, just… come here. Come see me?"
"Kendall, you promised we would spend the whole day together," she whined.
"I know," Kendall murmured sadly.
"I-I'm not trying to be one of those annoying, complaining girlfriends," Jade said. "We just never have a whole day, and then on our one month anniversary we happen to have one, and you don't even answer my calls?"
"You have every right to be upset with me right now, Jade. I slept late and stuff came up with work unexpectedly. I should've called you. I'm so sorry! Just let me make it up to you," he pleaded.
"I'll uh, I'll come by later or something." Jade closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair exasperatedly.
"Jade…"
"I'll see you later, Kendall."
And with that, she ended the call. She fell onto her bed, fighting her own feelings. She had a right to be upset, didn't she? Kendall had said he'd call her when he woke up, and then it got later and later in the day, and still no call. Jade resisted calling him until it was into the mid-afternoon hours and she had grown too anxious about it. It wouldn't have been as big a deal if the date didn't mark them officially being together a month; a day Kendall had marveled over nonstop for the past few days. And after his ongoing talk about it, he doesn't even call her until six o'clock that night? But it was so hard to stay mad at him; it was like her weakness. Sometimes she felt like Kendall could murder somebody and as long as he looked at her a certain way afterwards it would all be okay.
Those feelings scared her.
She didn't like not being in control of her emotions. But every time she thought about that, she wondered why she wasn't as open to love Kendall as she was Chad. And when she would try to discuss it with Leslie, the girl would continuously insist that it's all because of Chad. Because Chad hurt her and she was still scared Kendall would do the same. Because she needed closure with Chad. Because this, because that. Now Jade just tuned her out.
And then Leslie waltzed into the room cheerfully, her bleach blonde hair bouncing with the rest of her. "Um, why are you home?" she asked.
"I don't know…" Jade frowned.
"Why aren't you with Kendall?"
"He just now called me, Leslie."
Now it was Leslie's turn to frown. "So… why aren't you with him?"
"He said we were going to spend the whole day together, and he just now called me!" Jade sat up, anxiously clasping her hands together.
"But isn't today y'alls one month?" Leslie sat lightly next to her friend.
Jade nodded sadly. "He's seemed so excited about it lately—I think mostly because he never thought he'd be with one girl for that long—but it's like today… I don't know if he forgot or just suddenly didn't care…"
"Oh, Jade. I'm sure it was neither of those!" Leslie placed a comforting hand on Jade's back. "Maybe he was planning something special or something, and it took longer than he thought?"
"He said he slept late and had some unexpected stuff with work."
"You don't believe him?"
"I don't know! I just feel like if he was telling the truth, he still would've called." Jade shrugged, then sighed. "But it's like I don't even know if I have a right to be mad at him. What kind of stuff can I get mad over in a relationship? I don't want to be clingy or whatever… and it's just impossible for me to actually stay mad at him. I told him I'd come by later." She rolled her eyes half-heartedly.
"Yeah, Jade, him blowing off plans on your one monthiversary is pretty good reason to get upset over. But it's Kendall, he wouldn't deliberately disappoint you like that, so maybe just… wait it out?" Leslie shrugged. "But hey! I have this awesome place I wanna show you! James took me last night. I could take you there, then take you to Kendall's?" she suggested. "You know, it would give you some time to cool off."
"Uhh, sure. What kind of place is it?"
Leslie jumped up excitedly. "It's amazing! But it's a surprise!" She paused. "Would you think I was crazy if I wanted to blindfold you like James did to me when he took me? I think it adds to the experience…"
"No, because that's so you." Jade laughed. "But you're not blindfolding me."
"Oh, come on, Jade! Pleeease?!" Leslie pulled on her arm pleadingly. "Just let me do this!"
"Leslie…"
"Please, Jade! Best friend! It'll cheer you up! The sooner you let me do this, the sooner you can straighten all this crap out with Kendall!"
Jade sighed, shaking her head but giving in for the sake of avoiding further argument. "Fine."
Leslie cheered, pulling a bandana out of her pocket. "Alright," she said after tying it around Jade's head. "Can you see how many fingers I'm holding up?" She held two in Jade's face.
"You know I could just lie to you and tell you I can't see them, right?"
"I thought you would say that! That's why I'm tying a second one around the first!" Leslie sounded proud of herself.
Jade groaned. "Why did I agree to this?"
"Okay, time to change your clothes!" Leslie moved away from her friend and towards the closet.
Jade heard the sound of plastic. "Wait, what?! Why?" She tried to resist Leslie's grip as she tried to lift Jade's shirt from her body.
"Just let me change you, woman!" Leslie demanded, mumbling something about adds to the experience as she struggled to get the shirt over Jade's head without moving the blindfolds.
"I feel like I'm being kidnapped and potentially raped," Jade whined as she felt something like a dress being slid onto her.
"Oh shut up," Leslie laughed, moving around Jade to zip up the dress. Then she made her friend sit down so she could slip her feet into some shoes. "This just-"
"Adds to the experience? Yeah Leslie, you're psycho."
Entertaining Jades comment, Leslie cackled hysterically. "And now we're ready to go, my pretty!"
Jade groaned. "You're giving me away as a sex slave or something aren't you? Why do you have me in this dress?" She could feel the cold air of her room hitting nearly her whole back.
"Oh, grow up, Jade." Leslie led her out of their apartment. "This dress is not at all sex slave worthy. It's very respectable, actually. Formal."
"But why?" Jade was now being led carefully down the steps and to the parking lot. Leslie didn't answer, just leading Jade to her car, helping her in, and driving her towards her destination.
Light music flowed to Jade's ears as she was guided up a few steps, which grew slightly louder when she heard a door open in front of her and a familiar, horrible country accent say, "Howdy, ma'am!"
"What the hell is going on?" Jade questioned, turning her head left and right as if she were looking around, forgetting she couldn't see anything. She knew that was Dustin's voice… isn't it? The music seemed to follow her as she was walked through a seemingly familiar setting until she was finally stopped. She heard footsteps around her, and as soon as she heard a door close, they stopped.
For a moment, Jade thought she was alone, but then warm lips were surrounding her own before she had a chance to question what was going on. Her first thought was to burst out saying she was right about Leslie giving her away as a sex slave, but she knew the hungry lips working against hers all too well to break away from them so soon.
"I thought you were mad at me," Kendall whispered, placing a chaste kiss to her ear and slowly rubbing his hands up and down her back.
Jade shook her head, laughing lightly. "You know it's impossible for me to stay mad at you." She sighed. "You wanna help me take these blindfolds off though?"
He chuckled, instantly releasing her to reach around and untie the bandanas from her head. "It's all in the surprise, baby," he murmured, stepping aside right before he unveiled the room to her.
She gawked in surprise, seeing the cliché rose petals scattered across the floor, the strings of lights lining the beige walls all around them, and the small table in the middle of the room next to the dark fireplace, with a crystal-like tea-light candle piece sitting inbetween two sets of silverware and wine glasses, accompanied by beanbags as chairs.
"Kendall…!" Jade breathed out in shock, feeling his arms slide around her torso from behind. "Is this the beanbag room?"
Kendall laughed lightly in her ear, putting a smile on Jade's face at the sound. "Crazy, right?" he asked softly, kissing the shell of her ear and gently rocking their bodies back and forth.
She easily turned around in his arms and pulled away from him, taking his hands in hers and soaking in his appearance. A bright smile lit her face as she observed his black Vans, black skinny jeans, and black suspenders sitting atop a blue button-up shirt, and then his pushed-back hair. "God, you're so good-looking," she murmured, eyeing him up and down one more time.
He beamed at her, his face turning a shade of red she adored as he tightened his grip on her hands. "Me? Have you seen yourself?"
"Actually, I haven't…" She giggled. "Leslie dressed me."
Kendall laughed loudly. "She really went all out for the surprise, huh?"
Jade nodded. "Apparently. I'm guessing this isn't the amazing place James took her to that she just had to show me?" Kendall shook his head with a smile. "So this is what you've been doing all day?" She let go of one of his hands to motion around the glowing room.
"Yes… I'm so sorry I didn't exactly think it through, you know, by not calling you?" He looked down sadly. "I really did oversleep, and then I sort of got lost in planning and time slipped away from me…"
"You know I would've been content spending a simple day with you. Now we only have tonight." Jade frowned.
Kendall shook his head. "We have tomorrow now." He grinned. "Scott called me this morning and told me to let everyone know that we don't have to go in. So I told everyone but you, and started working on all of this." He looked at her proudly.
She laughed in disbelief and moved in to give him a soft kiss. "You're perfect, you know that?" she whispered against his lips, watching the blush creep to his cheeks. She smiled. Compliments from her always seemed to embarrass him in some way. In a good way.
He just nuzzled his nose against hers. "You look so beautiful," he murmured, gliding his fingers down her arms, meeting her hands again. And as they stared into each other's eyes, they knew there was nowhere else in the world they'd rather be. "I wanna see if you like your dress. Come over here." He pulled her towards the closet door and opened it, revealing a full length mirror on the other side.
"Oh!" Jade grazed her hands down her sides. "This is new." Sure, she could feel the shape and fit of the dress, but it didn't look anything like she thought; she really didn't expect it to be new. She felt the silky black material under her fingertips and admired the way it fit her form. It was the perfect dress. "You picked this out yourself?" A chill ran through her as she felt his cool hands drift up her open back.
"I just gave opinions." Kendall smiled, sliding his hands right up to her shoulders, massaging them. "I met Leslie at one of your favorite shops earlier today. She picked out all the dresses she knew you would like, and I picked my favorite and bought it."
Jade tilted her head back against his shoulder, becoming overly-relaxed under his touch. "You didn't need to do that…"
"I wanted to. Today means a lot to me. Of course I was going to get you something." He smiled softly, turning her around to face him.
"Well then, thank you." She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling them together. "I got you something, too." Kendall raised his eyebrows. "But since I didn't know I was coming to see you… it's at home." She giggled.
He shrugged with a smile. "It's almost dinner time," he murmured before pecking her mouth and leading her over to the table.
"This is all so nice," Jade commented, marveling at the decorations again. "Did you cook?" she asked hopefully. Kendall had spoiled her by cooking many nights for her after work, and she couldn't seem to get enough of it sometimes.
He chuckled as he sat across from her. "Look, I feel horrible all the time, because I can't take you out on proper dates." He frowned. "So this is me, trying to pull off an actual date… at home. This is the restaurant, and later, I'll be taking you to see a movie." He beamed at her.
"Here?"
He shook his head. "Nope. I have a friend that has the hook-up. But enough about that! I can smell our food." He smirked. "Your favorite restaurant is catering."
Jade's eyes widened. "Kendall, how much did you spend on all of this?!"
"What's important here is having a fantastic one month anniversary together." He reached over the side of the table near the fireplace. "And I know just the way to start us off." He grinned, pulling a bottle of Red wine from an ice bin to show her. Her eyes twinkled with eagerness in the candlelight as she watched her boyfriend pour her half a glass, and he couldn't help but grin. He thought it was adorable how much of a wine girl she was. He hadn't expected it one bit; truthfully, he hadn't expected her to be much of an alcohol drinker at all, but she was full of surprises.
And after a few more glasses, a couple of romantic slow dances, dinner and dessert, the giggly, slightly tipsy couple was ready to be chauffeured—by James Maslow himself-to their next destination.
Jade was surprised to see them pull up to a house. Mansion would be a better term. But she was even more surprised when she was lead inside and to a gigantic room that indeed looked exactly like a movie theater, only more comfortable with loveseats big enough for two lined up in the room instead of conventional, fold-up theater seats. And then their friends occupied some of the spots, confusing Jade even further.
Before she had a chance to question that, Kendall pulled her close, whispering right into her ear, "They're here to make it more real. Like, so when I make out with you on the back row, it feels a bit more rebellious like we're actually at the movies." He grinned against her skin, nibbling playfully at her ear. She giggled, dragging him by his suspenders when the lights dimmed to a chair in the very back, and pulled him onto her lap. Kendall buried his face in her neck, his body shaking with giddy laughter. "I don't think this is how it goes," he mumbled, referring to how they were sitting, before gently grinding his teeth against her skin.
Jade slid her hands onto his chest, moving them under his shirt and onto his shoulders. "No, this isn't right, is it?" she questioned innocently, pushing him away from her neck.
He took the moment to jump up, immediately scooping her into his arms and causing her to shriek from the suddenness of the move. "Sshhhh!" He put a finger to her lips. "The movie's starting!" he whispered with a smirk, sitting down so that she was now on his lap. "Now…" He grabbed her hips and turned her over, hiking up her dress just enough so she could straddle his legs. "Come here." He smiled mischievously and pulled her body onto his, cherishing this, knowing in the back of his mind that he wouldn't get as sensual a moment as her straddling him to make out with him if Jade wasn't tipsy off Red Wine.
When Jade woke up the next morning, she was stiffly curled up on her side, her head on Kendall's lap. She looked around, seeing they were still in the home movie theater, and realized she had fallen asleep after they'd finished watching the movie. She turned her head back when she felt Kendall start playing with her hair and smiled. "Good morning," she murmured, struggling to turn on her back. She was sore from staying so scrunched up a majority of the night.
"Morning." Kendall smiled warmly down at her. "How 'bout we change clothes? You've looked really uncomfortable sleeping in that dress."
"I am," Jade laughed. "How long have you been awake?"
Kendall shrugged. "An hour, maybe?"
"You coulda woke me up." She slowly sat up, feeling Kendall's hand on her back for support.
He shrugged again. "I like watching you sleep."
Jade blushed, scooting close to him and planting a kiss on his cheek. "We don't have clothes to change into," she said.
"Yes we do." Kendall grabbed her hand before he stood up, bringing her with him. "Leslie packed an outfit for you last night." He grinned, yanking up an overnight bag from the seat in front of them. "Let's see here…" He unzipped the bag and pulled out her short shorts. "I told James these were just for around the house!" He pretended to be embarrassed and hide them behind his back.
Jade laughed, yanking the shorts from his hand. "Shut up," she said, slipping the shorts up her legs and pulling them under her dress. "Now that Leslie has packed the shortest shorts I own, what else ya got for me?"
He chuckled, pulling out the rest of the clothes for the two of them and sorting them out. Of course, Jade made him turn away from her so she could change, and insisted she do the same for him, even though he suggestively insisted she was welcome to watch him.
Then once Kendall made it to the door and they were ready to begin their day, he immediately retreated back into the theater room. "Oh shit."
"What?" Jade asked, alarmed.
"Umm…" he chuckled nervously. "My uh, family is here."
"Why is your family here?" Jade looked at him uncertainly.
"Well I mean, this house belongs to a family friend… but really? They picked today to visit?!" He placed his back against the door anxiously.
Flustered, Jade approached him, resting her hands on his chest and leaning against him. "I-It's okay if you haven't… told them about me…" she murmured sadly.
"No, no Jade, of course I've told them about you. But I don't think they believe me." He laughed humorlessly, holding her hips. "They know what you look like, so if they see us so unexpectedly my mom's liable to break down crying because I finally have a girlfriend." He rolled his eyes.
Jade giggled. "Well if that's all you're worried about, then let's go meet them." She smiled, kissing him.
"Are you sure?" Kendall murmured into her lips. "That's kind of a big step, huh?"
She shrugged. "I guess, but it doesn't have to be this big formal event. Casual's easier."
"They're gonna ask a million questions."
"That's okay. I'm excited to meet them. I've only seen all the pictures in your room, and then Kevin in the occasional TV show or movie." She sighed. "You're such a family man, I'm surprised I didn't meet them sooner."
Kendall smiled, grasping her hands on his chest. "They're gonna love you."
And Kendall ended up being right. His mother cried joyfully, his dad just stared in amazement, and his brothers bombarded them with a thousand questions, including one about their sex life, and were astonished to find that the two didn't have one yet. But all in all, the Schmidt family adored Jade and knew they would always be grateful to her for changing Kendall's life for the better. They seemed to have endless faith in their relationship, expecting them to be together for a very long time.
